Arson may be cause of Griffith Park fire

Investigators are trying to figure out what sparked several fires in Griffith Park this weekend.Investigators believe a series of brush fires that broke out at Griffith Park over the weekend is the work of a serial arsonist. Five fires popped one after another, blazing about five minutes apart on Saturday.

"I'm really angry about it. I hike in the park all the time with my dogs and it poses a potential life-threatening danger to me," said David Klar, a park visitor.

Los Angeles City Councilman Tom LaBonge said all the fires have one thing in common: they were set by the roadside.

The fires erupted around noon near the Travel Town museum on Saturday.

"Because it's accessibility to the Ventura Freeway, it does cause concern that someone is jumping off that freeway running up to the park," said LaBonge

The fires come after two others on July 28 and August 4. Officials are not sure if they are connected.

The conditions at Griffith Park are very dry. Officials worry a fire could roar out of control and become extremely dangerous.

Those enjoying the park have said they are upset someone would intentionally set out to destroy the area.

Officials have considered restricting access to certain areas of the park. LaBonge hopes to avoid that option. Instead, LaBonge has said he'd like to meet with hikers, workers and park regulars to encourage them to watch out for suspicious activity.

"This is an active crime. A firefighter was hurt in this fire over the weekend and that was a deliberate act of arson that they believe it is. So, we want people to be able to call ... be aware of it," said LaBonge.

Officials say the arsonist could have been disguised as a bicyclist or a hiker so he or she would go unnoticed.

Anyone with information, anyone with anything that looks suspicious should call 911.